Carton



Nov. 28, 1967 R. B. INGLE 3,355,086

CARTON Filed June 21, 1965 INVENTOR. ROBERT B, INGLE RONALD E. BARRYATTORNEY United States Patent 3,355,086 CARTON Robert B. Ingle, FortWorth, Tex., assignor to Hoerner- Waldorf Corporation, St. Paul, Minn, acorporation of Delaware Filed June 21, 1965, Ser. No. 465,311 6 Claims.(Cl. 229-31) This invention relates to an improved construction for acarton or container which can be formed from a single, precut blank ofcarton forming material.

The cartons contemplated herein are used by retail stores to Wrap suitsor dresses and are assembled by the clerk and given to the purchaser.Cartons of this type generally include advertising material printed onone side and are made of a light weight carton forming material in orderto provide a printable surface. These cartons are not designed to carryany substantial weight but must be strong enough to maintain their shapeunder ordinary loads in order to protect the suit or dress which is tobe carried within the carton.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide animproved type carton which is made from a single blank of light weightcarton forming material and has sufficient rigidity to withstand normalloads.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton whichwill retain its shape under normal loads.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cartonthat can be formed from a single blank of carton forming material in aminimum of time and little effort.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcarton for carrying dresses or the like which is substantially sealed atall corners to prevent foreign matter, such as dust, from entering thecarton.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved carton which can be formed from a single blank of cartonforming material with the bottom and top side walls automatically lockedin their upright positions.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a cartonblank which can be formed into a carton for carrying dresses or the likethat has the top wall locked to the bottom wall.

These objects are accomplished by cutting and scoring a carton blank oflight weight carton forming material with the top and bottom side wallsinterconnected by an end wall flap that is integral with the cartonblank. The end wall flap is divided by diagonal score lines into equalquadrants that fold' to an overlapping relationship to hold the top andbottom side walls in an upright position. The overlapping action isautomatically accomplished as the carton is folded and will hold theside walls in the upright position under considerable loads. The otherend of the bottom side walls are also held in position by folding thefront wall into overlapping relation with dust flaps which are connectedto the bottom side wall flaps.

A carrying handle is also provided in the front flap on the top wallwhich also acts to lock the top wall to the front wall on the bottomwall when the carton is closed. The handle is so located on the top wallthat it will project through an opening in the front Wall. Thisarrangement for closing the top wall provides a distinct advantage inthat no special attaching means is required to hold the carton closed.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carton blank cut and scored to form thecarton of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the carton blank folded to form thecarton.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the carton is shown formed from aunitary, rectangular cardboard blank which is provided with transversescore lines 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 to form front flap 22, top wall24, end wall 26, bottom wall 28, front wall 30, connecting wall 32 andlock flap 34.

Longitudinal score lines 36 and 38 are provided a spaced distance inwardfrom the longitudinal edges of the carton blank to form side walls 40and 42, bottom side walls 44 and 46 and end wall flaps 48 and 50. Thesescore lines are extended by cuts 52 and 54, respectively, to form dustflaps 56 and 58 which are hingedly connected to the bottom side walls byscore line 16.

The end wall flaps are each divided into quadrants 48a, 48b and 480 and50a, 50b and 50c with a hole 49 and 51 cut out of the center of each endWall flap. The quadrants are separated by diagonal score lines 47 and53, respectively, which are angled outward at a forty-five degree anglefrom the intersection of score lines 12 and 14 with score line 36, sothat the fold line will lie on score line 12 or 14 when the carton iserected.

The lock flap is provided with tabs 62 on its outer edge 60 which areinserted into slots 64 in the bottom wall when the front wall iserected. The connecting panel 32 separates the lock flap from the frontwall, forming a space for the dust flaps 56. A handhole 66 is providedin the lock flap which is aligned with an opening 68 in the front wall.A closure flap 70 is hingedly connected to the front wall at score line72 with a finger notch 74 provided in theflap to open it.

A pair of slots 76 are cut in the front flap which will also be alignedwith holes 66 and 68 when the carton is erected. Flexible plastic handle76 having flanges 78 at each end is mounted in the flap by inserting theflanges into the slots. Since the handle is flexible it can be easilyattached to the front flap by merely twisting the ends and insertingthem through slots 76.

In erecting the carton, the bottom side walls and top side walls arefolded upward on score lines 36 and 38. Dust flaps 56 and 58 are thenturned inward until aligned with score line score line 16 against thedust flaps and connecting panel 32 is folded on score line 18 over thedust flaps. The lock flap is folded on score line 20 until tabs 62 canbe inserted into slots 64 With the dust flaps enclosed in the spacebetween the front wall and lock flap. The bottom side walls will be heldin their upright position by the dust flap.

The end wall is folded upward on score line 14 with quadrants 48b and50b folded inward on score line 36 against the inside surface of the endwall. Quadrants 48c and 500 will fold on score lines 47 and 53,respectively, into engagement with the surfaces of quadrants 48b and5012, respectively. The top wall is then folded on score line 12 withthe top side wall folded inside of the bottom side wall and quadrants48a and 50a folded on score lines 47 and 53 into engagement withquadrants 48c and 500. The action of the quadrants on the end wall Jlapin folding the top wall into position tends to draw the top side walland bottom side wall tightly against each other to close the carton.

The flexible plastic handle is inserted in the slots in the front flapand the front flap folded downward on score line 10 so that the frontflap will fit inside of the front wall. When the top wall has been fullyclosed, the handle will be aligned in holes 66 and 68 and on opening offlap 78 the carton can be carried by the handle.

Mounting the handle on the front flap so that it projects outwardthrough the holes 66 and 68 also serves to lock the carton closed. Thetop wall cannot be opened until the 16. The front wall 30 is foldedupward on handle has been pushed back through holes 66 and 68 in thefront wall and lock flap of the carton.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, it should be apparent that various changes and modificationsof the present invention can be made Without departing from the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton formed from a single blank sheet of material which is cutand scored to be folded into a complete box, comprising:

a bottom wall, top wall and an end Wall hingedly interconnecting thebottom wall and top wall,

a front wall hingedly connected along one edge to the bottom wall,

bottom side walls hingedly connected to of said bottom wall,

top side walls hingedly connected to the the top wall,

end wall flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end wall and to theedges of said top and bottom side walls, said end wall flaps beingdivided into quadrants foldable into overlapping relation when thecarton is fully erected,

dust flaps hingedly connected to the bottom side Walls, said dust flapsbeing foldable into alignment with the hinged interconnection of saidbottom wall and front wall,

a locking flap substantially corresponding in length to the height ofsaid front wall but of reduced width hingedly connected to the oppositeedge of the front wall foldable into overlying relation to said dustflaps,

said locking flap having a tab extending along its opposed free edge,

a recess in said bottom wall corresponding to said locking flap tab andregisterable therewith when said locl'- ing flap is folded intooverlying relation to said dust flaps, and

registered handle means including relatively elongated apertures in saidfront wall and locking flap.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said top wall includes a frontflap hingedly secured to an edge of said top wall and foldable into facerelation to one face of said locking flap when said carton is erected,said front flap having an aperture registered with said registeredapertures of said front wall and locking flap.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said front flap includes a pairof apertures in spaced side by side relation, an elongated flexiblehandle having its ends detachably secured in said pair of aperturesadapted to extend through said registered apertures of said front walland locking flap.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said front wall includes a tabsubstantially corresponding in size and shape to said aperture disposedin said aperture, said tab being hingedly connected to said front wallalong one edge so as to be foldable out of the plane of said front wallwhen said registered handle means is utilized for carrying said carton.

5. A carton formed from a single blank sheet of material which is cutand scored to be folded into a complete box comprising:

a bottom wall, top wall and an end wall hingedly interconnecting thebottom wall and top Wall along generally parallel edges,

a front wall hingedly connected along one edge to the bottom wall,

the side edge side edges of said front wall having side edges extendingoutwardly of said bottom wall,

bottom side walls hingedly connected to the side edges of said bottomwall,

said top wall having a front flap hingedly secured to an edge of saidtop wall,

a locking flap of a length substantially corresponding to the height ofsaid front wall but of reduced width hingedly connected to the oppositeedge of said front wall,

top side walls hingedly connected to the side edge of the top wall,

end wall flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end wall and to theedges of said top and bottom side walls, said end wall flaps beingdivided into quadrants foldable into overlapping relation when thecarton is fully erected,

dust flaps hingedly connected to the bottom side walls,

said dust flaps being foldable into alignment with the hingedinterconnection of said bottom wall and front wall,

said locking flap foldable into overlying relation to said dust flaps,

said locking flap having a tab extending along its opposed free edge,

a recess in said bottom wall corresponding to said locking flap tab andregistrable therewith when said locking flap is folded into overlyingrelation to said dust flaps to lock said carton in erected condition,

said front flap on said top wall being foldable into face relation tosaid locking flap when said carton is erected,

said front wall and said locking flap each having an elongated aperturein registered relation,

said front flap having a pair of spaced apertures in register with saidapertures in said front wall and said locking flap,

an elongated handle having its ends detachably secured in said spacedapertures of said front flap adapted to extend through said registeredapertures of said front wall and said locking flap.

6. The structure of claim 5 and in which said front wall includes a tabcorresponding generally in size and shape to said elongated aperturehingedly disposed in said aperture and foldable out of the plane of saidfront wall when said handle extends through said registered apertures ofsaid front wall and said locking flap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,477 5/1932 Appelbaum 22934X 1,814,816 7/1931 Appelbaum 22934 X 1,850,829 3/1932 Cole 229-362,090,375 8/1937 Rosenthal et al. 22936 2,128,509 8/1938 Swope 229332,168,387 8/1939 Bellin 229--36 2,177,993 10/1939 Olsen 22936 2,189,9202/1940 Mulmix 229-36 2,252,023 8/1941 Mulmix 22936 2,565,288 8/1951Woiford 22936 3,019,958 2/1962 Asman et a1 22936 X FOREIGN PATENTS979,878 1/ 1965 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner.

1. A CARTON FORMED FROM A SINGLE BLANK SHEET OF MATERIAL WHICH IS CUTAND SCORED TO BE FOLDED INTO A COMPLETE BOX, COMPRISING: A BOTTOM WALL,TOP WALL AND AN END WALL HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTING THE BOTTOM WALL ANDTOP WALL, A FRONT WALL HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG ONE EDGE TO THE BOTTOMWALL, BOTTOM SIDE WALLS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE SIDE EDGE OF SAIDBOTTOM WALL, TOP SIDE WALLS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE SIDE EDGES OF THETOP WALL, END WALL FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OF THE END WALLAND TO THE EDGES OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM SIDE WALLS, SAID END WALL FLAPSBEING DIVIDED INTO QUADRANTS FOLDABLE INTO OVERLAPPING RELATION WHEN THECARTON IS FULLY ERECTED, DUST FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOMSIDE WALLS, SAID DUST FLAPS BEING FOLDABLE INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THEHINGED INTERCONNECTION OF SAID BOTTOM WALL AND FRONT WALL, A LOCKINGFLAP SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDING IN LENGHT TO THE HEIGHT OF SAID FRONTWALL BUT OF REDUCED WIDTH HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF THEFRONT WALL FOLDABLE INTO OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID DUST FLAPS, SAIDLOCKING FLAP HAVING A TAB EXTENDING ALONG ITS OPPOSED FREE EDGE, ARECESS IN SAID BOTTOM WALL CORRESPONDING TO SAID LOCKING FLAP TAB ANDREGISTERABLE THEREWITH WHEN SAID LOCKING FLAP IS FOLDED INTO OVERLYINGRELATION TO SAID DUST FLAPS, AND REGISTERED HANDLE MEANS INCLUDINGRELATIVELY ELONGATED APERTURES IN SAID FRONT WALL AND LOCKING FLAP.